Sanskrit Texts: topic ahamapi vidyalaya gamishyami

Study Notes

Sanskrit Texts

Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages in the world, with its earliest known roots dating back to at least 1500 BCE. Over time, it developed into a literary medium which supported diverse genres including epic poetry, drama, scientific literature and philosophical treatises. This section will focus on some of the key texts written in Sanskrit, providing context and background information where necessary.

Vedic Literature

The most ancient books of India are the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda. These four vedas form part of the Vedas, a collection of sacred Hindu texts. Originating from around 1500 BCE to 1200 BCE, these works are composed mainly in Vedic Sanskrit, which was influenced by pre-classical Sanskrit. They are considered the foundational scriptures of Hinduism and Jainism, and have also been influential in Buddhism.

Rigveda

The Rigveda is the oldest known Veda, containing over 1,000 hymns of various lengths and forms. Each hymn is called a 'sukta' and is addressed to a god identified by a name such as Indra, Varuna, Mitra etc. It consists of ten books, seven of them being made up of individual hymns while the last three contain prose passages dealing with legal matters relating to the performance of sacrifices.

Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is another major text written in Sanskrit. It contains two main parts: the Bhagavad Gita, which is part of the epic itself but is often considered separately due to its popularity; and the rest of the Mahabharata, referred to as the Anushasana Parva or 'Instructions'. The first six episodes are focused on the duties of kingship, followed by discussions on the duties of individuals towards society, family, and self.

Upanishads

Upanishads are a group of texts that form the later Vedanta tradition. There are 108 Upanishads, although only a few are considered important. Composed around 900 BCE to 500 CE, they were essentially appendages to the Vedas. There are two types of Upanishads: those comprising shlokas (verses) and those comprising sutras (aphorisms). Some of the well-known Upanishads include the Isha Upanishad, Katha Upanishad, Mundaka Upanishad, Mandukya Upanishad, Aitareeya Upanishad, Taittiriya Upanishad, Chhandogya Upanishad and Brhadaranyaka Upanishad.

In summary, Sanskrit has had a profound impact on Indian civilization through its texts. From the ancient roots of the Vedas to the epics like Mahabharata and the spiritual guidance offered by the Upanishads, these texts continue to influence our understanding of Indian history, culture, and philosophy.